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Letters to the editor for the week of June 13th

Road too dangerous for bikes What will the price of safety be for Pemberton Meadows Road? As a 26-year resident of the Pemberton Valley, an avid bike rider, an avid driver and a mother of five drivers I can confidently say that the bike, car situatio
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Road too dangerous for bikes

What will the price of safety be for Pemberton Meadows Road?

As a 26-year resident of the Pemberton Valley, an avid bike rider, an avid driver and a mother of five drivers I can confidently say that the bike, car situation scares the crap out of me.  

Wait, before you think this is a letter of disapproval for bike traffic on our road, think again.

I am strongly in favour of sharing the road. I am in favour of sharing the view. I believe I live in heaven and I am proud to share it with everyone who finds themselves here looking up in awe of what I get to call home.

As a bike rider of Meadows Road, and mother, I can tell you my children have scarcely been allowed to ride the very road they live on. Why? Because it is a damned dangerous road.

As a driver a frightening trust happens every time you come around one of our blind corners and there is a bike in your lane and an oncoming car in the opposite lane. I only hope that one of my young sons never has to execute an unthinkable choice and then live with the consequence for the rest of their lives. As a bike rider on a road with no paved shoulder you also have to execute a blind trust.

I know personally that there is no opportunity to get out of the way of a logging truck and a school bus passing each other.

I believe the bikers are riding exactly where it is safest, (except the two abreast riders) bikers need to stay visible, they need to stay a bit out on the road and force the driver to slow down — they cannot pull into the gravel to get out of the way. Hitting that soft shoulder with skinny bike tires is a recipe for ending up right under the very tires you are trying to avoid.

My valley includes people enjoying it on bicycles. My valley will be a better place when it is safe to enjoy for all manner or traffic, including foot traffic.

I dream of turning river dikes into arteries connecting tourists, locals, and residents. How beautiful it would be to have a 70 km round trip trail system connecting farm country to local businesses and beyond.

Short of that grandiose dream I hope and trust that the influx of interest in biking in the valley will at least result in a paved shoulder wide enough to accommodate all of us safely.  

I sincerely hope that it isn't the loss of a life on Meadows Road that causes us to assess the value of sharing it.

Brenda Miller

Pemberton

Whistler in the summer

I had forgotten how wonderful it is to be a tourist in one's own hometown, until this past Sunday, when we braved the rain showers and headed to The Den patio. We were rewarded by the sweet sounds of Suzanne Wilson on guitar and the fantastic food and staff at The Den. An enjoyable Whistler moment!

Rose Lawrence

Whistler

Horses on the Lillooet River Bridge

Just like the dozen times per year I've crossed the Lillooet River Bridge, I crossed again today (Tuesday, June 11) with both my horses. It was the first time of the year and I wanted to offer a big thank-you to all drivers and vehicles that slowed down and passed us giving us lots of room.

I understand it is not always possible to drive like this, but the whole horse community is grateful to those of you who care about our safety.

There is no other way for us on horseback to get across to the other side than that highway bridge (where the speed limit is at 80 km/h).

Luckily a new non-motorized bridge for all trail users will include horse access. If you are interested in the issue please note there are information meetings coming up where you can show your support.

The Village of Pemberton is having a council meeting on June 18 at 9 a.m. at 1350 Aster St. (SLRD building) to give direction to staff regarding the new bridge over the Lillooet River. The SLRD is also having a board meeting on June 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the same location to discuss the same bridge issues. Both local governments have to agree, so it's important that horse owners attend this meeting too!

Corinne Stoltz

Ivey Lake, Pemberton

Water not a cash cow

I am responding to (the recent articles in Pique) and the issues around Pemberton North Water.

As one of the residents affected by the hyperinflation for the coming year, there are some facts to bring to the table regarding (SLRD director Ted) Craddock's comments:

Firstly, the role of public utilities — natural monopolies — is to produce and deliver critical infrastructure needs at reasonable costs. If they are privately owned they are usually regulated by a utilities commission. This water source is a public utility, not a cash cow for revenue generation for the Village of Pemberton (VOP). The notion of selling a product and drawing parallels to gasoline is recklessly out of line. This is a monopoly that serves the public. Transparency of the cost drivers would move this conversation forward for the stakeholders.

Secondly, VOP infrastructure subsidies have been supported by numerous levels of government.

Here is a summary of the water specific support and subsidies:

• April 2005: The village opens the new Waste Water Treatment Plant, a $6.8 million dollar project partially funded by the Canada-British Columbia Infrastructure Program. (Was the SLRD and Pemberton North part of this grant submission?);

• 2006 — 2008: During high demand summer days, Pemberton's only operational well (2-97) is pumping 24 hours a day to keep up with water use.

• December 2007: the village receives $355,000 from the Ministries of Community Services and Economic Development to install 320 metres of conduit, connect new well 3-07 to the existing system and install water treatment infrastructure for both the new and existing well.

• January 2009: the Village applied for $400,000 in provincial Towns for Tomorrow funding to move forward with water metering.

B.C. taxpayers bought the systems. I fail to see the rational for over 100 per cent rate increase for a public utility without full disclosure of the supporting cost structures that are causing this situation.

Robbie Stevens

Pemberton North

Ride on!

On behalf of the Sea to Sky Clean Air Society, I would like to thank all of the individuals and teams that participated in Bike to Work Week 2013.

There were 96 teams in total, which is a record number for the Sea to Sky Corridor! Close to 250 riders rode at least three out of the seven days, which represents a significant reduction in vehicle emissions during the period — good news for our airshed. Many people told me that that they will continue to ride their bike to work, which is the best possible result of this initiative.

A huge thanks goes out to the provincial sponsors that made this event possible: the province of British Columbia, BC Hydro, BC Transit, ICBC, CTV, and BCAA.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to the municipalities that supported this event: the Resort Municipality of Whistler (which also provided the LED lights); the Village of Pemberton; and the District of Squamish; as well as the local sponsors that generously contributed prizes and food/beverages: Comor Sports, Corsa Cycles, Bike Co., Mammacangura, Axis Massage, The Funky Monkey Boutique, Whistler Blackcomb, Skiis & Bikes, Nesters Market, Blenz Coffee, IGA MarketPlace, Starbucks, Mount Currie Coffee Co., and Blackbird Bakery. A special thank you goes to Louise MacDougall of WORCA and Bruce Pomeroy of SORCA, as well as Kim Fairall, Shannon Allardyce, Josh Retallick and Kimberley Armour for event support, and finally to Jesse Morwood with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for electronic highway sign support.

The following individuals were the lucky winners of the prize draw:

Steve Barone — Axis Massage gift certificate.Roseanne Sones — tank top from the Funky Monkey Boutique. Soren Elsay — Triple Play Pass to the Bike Park. Kate Wiadrowski — helmet from Bike Co. Doug Hackett — child carrier from Mammacangura.Scott Lamont — panniers from Corsa Cycles. Amanda Brow — cruiser bike from Comor Sports. Stacey Spencer — seasons pass to the bike park.

For more information on this event, including participation and avoided greenhouse gas emissions for each community, please visit: www.biketowork.ca.

Thanks again, everyone. I'm looking forward to Bike to Work Week 2014!

Kim Slater

Sea to Sky Clean Air Society (SSCAS)

Rotary thanks

The Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium would like to thank everyone who helped make our Rotary Pancake Breakfast on Saturday June 8th so successful.

Many, many thanks to Nesters Market where the event was hosted, and particularly to store manager Bruce Stewart and his staff for all of their help!

We deeply appreciate the amazing generosity of our sponsors and supporters — Nesters Market, Dairy Queen, Fruv, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Crepe Montagne, Starbucks Marketplace, Davids Tea, Whoola Toys, Quantum Vitamins, Splitz Grill, The Circle, Whistler Wedding Planner, Elevation Hair Studio, Great Glass Elevator, McDonald's, Centerplate and R.B. Brown Land Surveying. Thanks to all of you!

A huge thanks to Rotarian Brian Brown who spearheaded this event and to everyone else that helped!

Thanks to everyone who came out and ate pancakes or bought balloons.

All the proceeds from this event fund both community and international projects of the Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium.

Watch for our next Rotary Pancake Breakfast and Balloon Fest at the Whistler Childrens' Festival on July 13th and 14th.

Patrick McCurdy, President

Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium

Opportunity to learn

The Whistler Question recently published an uninformed and spiteful opinion column by Nick Davies attacking the credibility and motivations of local First Nations.

I would urge anyone who is interested in learning the facts about the history of First Nations in Whistler to visit the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre at the corner of Blackcomb Way and Lorimer Road.

Ask one of the cultural ambassadors to show you around. I'm certain you will walk away with a new appreciation for (what has been in Whistler lore) a largely invisible legacy.

It is exactly the reason why the two First Nations built the cultural centre in the first place.  

Sheldon Tetreault

Pemberton

Bouquet of thanks

Thank you Whistler for coming out last Saturday in that miserable weather and supporting The Friends of the Library, annual fundraiser, The Giant Plant sale.

We are your typical bunch of volunteers, we have jobs, families and hobbies, but every year this little group just gets better, at scrounging plants, inventing new projects, and on the day of the sale proudly setting it all up on the library stairs.

Thank-you, Jessie, Moe, Lil, Howard, Maureen, Susan, Bev, Maureen, Gay, Jane, Chris and Nadine, Anne and John. Our guests, Jim Cooke from the greenhouse project and Lori Pynes from the Cheakamus Crossing community gardens and Jim Kennedy with his dhailas.

The Whistler municipality donated the bulbs, Starbucks the coffee and Nesters the snacks and 20 flats of annuals. Thank you. We raised close to $1,500 and we will be back next year to do it again.

Happy gardening and thank-you.

The Friends of the Library meets at 4 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month in the library — come join us and help us support the Whistler Public Library.

Christy Auer

Whistler

Adventures await

We would like to extend a huge thanks to Eric and Judy at Backroads Whistler for hosting the first Whistler Trex (Girl Guides aged 12 to 16) cruise down the River of Golden Dreams in kayaks last Monday.

It was a beautiful night as we set off from Lakeside Park and stopped for a picnic at Meadow Park. This was the end of the year activity chosen by the girls to celebrate a fun year of adventures including camping, sleepovers and community service projects like stocking the shelves at the Food Bank to name just a few.

It was also our last evening with leaders Kerri Fletcher and Jen Leigh who will not be joining us next year. For nine years we have planned, organized, learned, experienced and laughed out loud together while leading our girls through challenges and adventures. Their enthusiasm for the Guiding movement will be greatly missed by all of us. Thank-you for your amazing contribution!

Girl Guides in Whistler needs more women to take a leadership role in volunteering with our girls for Sparks, Brownies and Guides. We welcome new gals to join us by emailing coastmountaingirlguides@gmail.com to find out how your adventure will begin.

Jennifer Patterson and the Girl Guide Gals

Whistler